Freeport Indonesia to restart underground mine operations

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) announced on Tuesday it has received an official approval to resume milling and underground mine operations from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR).

PTFI reiterates its commitment to a safe operating environment and will implement recommendations from MEMR in its restart of underground and milling operations.

An underground tunnel collapsed at PTFI?s Big Gossan mine in Papua in May, killing 28 workers, which triggered the government to suspend the company?s gold and copper mining operations, pending the completion of investigation. The government allowed Freeport to resume open pit mine late in May.

Elsewhere, PTFI said in a statement that it expresses appreciation to the government for the approval and the thoroughness of its investigations and reviews which focused on ensuring that best practices for ground control installation and monitoring are being implemented, and that appropriate safety measures and technology for monitoring ground conditions have been implemented.

The company continues to study the recent mining accident through its own internal investigation and commits to utilize the results of the investigations performed by the mines inspectors of the MEMR, the Special Team, and its internal processes to take all corrective actions required to reinforce the company?s commitment to apply high safety standards.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak